Maria Torres-Springer, left, with Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat NYC and Westchester
Maria Torres-Springer underscores housing affordability at an event themed “Framing the Future of Housing”
Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester celebrated a landmark evening at the 2025 Habitat House Party, convening over 250 community leaders, supporters, and advocates to frame the future of housing with bold vision and urgency. This year’s event, held at the iconic Metropolitan Club on Monday night, was marked by a pivotal moment: Maria Torres-Springer, a renowned city leader and visionary public servant, made her first public remarks since being named Chair of Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team.
Maria was honored for her outstanding public service and transformative impact on housing policy, including championing the City of Yes zoning reforms and pro-housing ballot initiatives that have reshaped the city’s housing landscape. Habitat NYC and Westchester recognized her unwavering dedication to creating pathways for families to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.
The evening’s theme, Framing the Future of Housing, reflects Habitat’s commitment to redefining homeownership through innovative strategies—homebuilding, preservation, tenant-to-ownership conversions—and advancing policies that protect tenure of place and prevent displacement. Guests enjoyed a spirited program featuring moving Habitat homeowner stories, a lively auction to fund construction across the five boroughs and Westchester County, and tributes to honorees JP Morgan Chase, Erica Buckley, and Rev. Josias Rodriguez.
“I want to dedicate this recognition tonight to the extraordinary public servants – past and present – who share a faith in what’s possible. The planners, project managers, lawyers, and architects who have stayed late, fought through the bureaucracy, and absorbed criticism because they believe that housing is not just a unit count – it’s a moral statement about who we are as a city,” said Maria Torres-Springer. “To frame the future of housing means to imagine a city that reflects our best selves – one where every beam we raise and brick we lay tells a story – a story of what we value, who we choose to include, what we stand for and who we are to one another.”
“Affordable housing is the cornerstone of a thriving, inclusive, and resilient city, and no one in recent memory has had a more transformative impact on affordable housing policy in New York than Maria,” said Sabrina Lippman, CEO of Habitat NYC and Westchester. “We are thrilled to honor her at such a pivotal moment as the incoming administration takes shape, and look forward to partnering with Mayor-Elect Mamdani and his team to prioritize affordable homeownership, invest in innovative housing solutions, and ensure every New Yorker has the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families.”
